The display from the Swans this afternoon brought little if any hope of a win next week in the derby game. Fraught with errors and no passion whatsoever this game summed up everything about the Swans season. The words of Nathan Wood, Jamie Paterson and Luke Williams counted for nothing at the end of this sorry game of football.

The Swans starting eleven.

Swansea City bossed the first half on passing and and possession but the home sides rigid defending and lack of creativity going forwards stifled all attempts in the first forty five. The home crowd booed their team as the domination of the Swans was obvious. It was a calm Swansea which utilised the flanks and in particular Ronald on the Robins left hand side of the pitch. His speed and control was obvious as he managed five decent opportunities to feed his forward players. Sadly his crossing failed him without reaching a Swans player. The Robins clearing easily and the process of the Swans dominating play continued.

It seemed their plan was to frustrate and wear out Swansea and hit them later in the game as indeed was the case. Joe Allen was noticeable in midfield breaking up play and supplying Placheta on the opposite wing but he too wasn’t getting any luck for his efforts. The game needed a lift and it needed to come from the craft of the Swans midfield. It didn’t come despite the efforts of Jamie Paterson to make an impact on the game. Matt Grimes seemed a bit part player, again lost at times as a football match went on around him, that is if this could have been described as such.

The domination will have frustrated Swans fans but there were five shots at the home goal in that first half, but nothing to shout about. The corner count was very much in the Swans favour going in to the break.

Despite the promise of a Swans win the second half started slowly, and the game was there to be won which added to the frustration. The Swans with no real urgency despite an early corner in front of the large travelling Swans support. The pattern of slow passing, Nathan Wood, Carl Rushworth to Ben Cabango continued but when the Swans did put some aggresssive content together they v,ew their chances. Placheta slicing an opportunity wide when he should have gone across the keeper. The best opportunity of the game by a long way so far.

On sixty minutes some form of tempo arrived with Bristol City upping their efforts and the Swans doing likewise as the sun appeared over Ashton Gate. The use of a long ball over the top was employed by the away side but control and ability was in question. Then a corner which caused some concern in the Robins area but to no avail. Then the Eobuns first chance of the game when McCrorie fired wide with Conway waiting on his own to slot home. The another chance firnthenRobins after Tymon gave the ball away. Again the wrong choice was made. Mark Sykes the offender this time.

Bristol City were sensing the three points. They had woken up.

It came on seventy two minutes when Rob Dickie headed home after a short corner, the Swans defence unable to mark the goalscorer. And as predicted the inevitable was once again with us. The response from Swansea was more standing around unable to pick themselves up to respond. It really is unfathomable how this side can be so docile and unconcerned when the need for urgency is needed. Swansea on eighty minutes really looked lost. Ollie Cooper and Josh Key came on for Jamie Paterson and Kyle Naughton.

Then Jason Knight had a wonderful chance to finish off the Swans but his header just went past the post. The Swans seemed out on their feet. When they did get forwards the crossing was dreadful, the control poor and the cutting back inside when a forward run was on just summed up the inability of this Swans side all season. It has to be said, there’s no escaping it. Then Jay Fulton was on for Joe Allen, and to cap it all off Ronald who had a difficult day was subbed for Jerry Yates. That seemed to be the final insult.

Jamal Lowe did get forwards to supply a cross for Cooper but he put his shot well over. The Swans lack of urgency even going in to injury time seemed senseless. With four minutes of injury time to play misplaced passes continued and every ball forwards resulted in a rebuild. A last minute free kick was awarded for the Swans which took Grimes thirty seconds to take and came to nothing.

The effort and application today was poor, the ability to inspire each other on the pitch was lost. Grimes again took too much time with a final free kick as a spectator ran into the field. Possibly a Swans fan looking for a three year ban to take away their misery of watching this performance. This really isn’t acceptable for any team whose fans commit themselves to their side as the Jack army do.

Eight shots at goal none on target. Have a great rest if the day !

⚽️ Swans Indy : Next week is the derby game against Cardiff City and anything resembling this will sum this season up as the worst we have seen for some twenty three years. The next level it seems is very much achievable, and Andrew Coleman had better pin his ears back at the coming weeks fans forum. The leadership, planning and progress is absolutely unacceptable and the clubs lack of transparency financially needs explaining as well.

⚽️ Swansea City: Carl Rushworth, 6 Ben Cabango, 5 Joe Allen 6 (Jay Fulton 82’), Matt Grimes 5 (captain), Jamie Paterson 7 (Ollie Cooper 78’), Josh Tymon, 6 Przemysław Płacheta,5 Liam Cullen 5 (Jamal Lowe 68’),6 Nathan Wood, Kyle Naughton 6 (Josh Key 78’), 6 Ronald 6 (Jerry Yates 82’).

Unused substitutes: Andy Fisher, Harry Darling, Charlie Patino, Azeem Abdulai.

⚽️ Bristol City: Max O’Leary, Ross McCrorie, Cameron Pring (Haydon Roberts 60’), Joe Williams, Harry Cornick (Mark Sykes 56’), Anis Mehmeti, Jason Knight (captain), Tommy Conway (Nakhi Wells 82’) Rob Dickie, Taylor Gardner-Hickman (Andy King 82’), Zak Vyner.

Unused substitutes: Stefan Bajic, Scott Twine, Jamie Knight-Lebel, Dire Mebude.

⚽️ Referee 7/10 : Matthew Donohue : Managed the game well.

Photograph with permission Dimitris Legakis

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